The steel is bent and almost broken in Pittsburgh, Vick gets his wish, and it’s all smiles in Dallas. 

What’s going on in Pittsburgh?  Ben Roethlisberger back from his second concussion of the year did not look healthy.  The Raiders returned two of Roethlisberger’s four interceptions for touchdowns in their 20 – 13 win at home against the Steelers.  If I was to tell you that a team had 98 net yards of offense, was 1 –11 on third down, and averaged 2 yards per play, what do you think the result would be?  Well it amounted to a win for the Raiders on Sunday.  Here is one scouts take on Roethlisberger.  “Big Ben did not look right all day. He looked like he was still suffering from the symptoms of his second concussion of the season. The game simply looked like it was moving too quickly for Big Ben on Sunday.”  The hangover was obvious in Pittsburgh.  Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote today, “This intensely anticipated season of sweet promise -- the defense of the Super Bowl, the start of another dynasty -- is all but over.  The team that couldn't beat NFL weaklings like the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers humbled the Steelers.  If you can't beat the Oakland Raiders, whom can you beat?”  Things don’t get any easier for the Steelers as Denver and New Orleans come to town over the next two weeks.  I can only imagine how many times the cameras will cut to head coach Bill Cowher and his infamous facial expressions in those games.

Less than two weeks ago, Michael Vick pulled a "T.O." talking wishfully about how awesome it would be to play with some good wide receivers.  Much to his agrin, his coaches look like they were listening.  In the last two games, Vick has gone 38 of 58 for 523 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions, which translates into a passer rating of 119.5.  This after throwing only three touchdown passes in the first five games this season.  "I feel I just need the opportunity to throw the ball," said Vick, whose passer rating of 140.6 was the second highest of his career. "Just give me the chance to do it. I've felt like all along, this is what I could do."  On top of all that Vick is on target to set a career high in rushing yards.  Things are looking up in Atlanta with Detroit and Cleveland next up for the Falcons

Oh how a week can change the outlook of things.  After a poor performance in the first half against the Giants last week, Dallas head coach Bill Parcell was forced to bench Drew Bledsoe in favor of unproven backup Tony Romo.  With the crowd chanting his last name, Romo fired his first pass for an interception and was largely ineffective the rest of the game.  However, he was given the starting nod this week against the Panthers on the road. He found a way to put a smile back on Bill Parcell’s face.  Romo rallied the Cowboys from a 14-point first-quarter deficit, passing for 270 yards and a touchdown.  That smile was seen on the face of T.O. as well who is on record stating he likes the change at QB.  "Tony gives us a different change of pace," Owens said. "He gets the ball out quick and he gave us some chances.”  A more obvious reason Owens was smiling was that he was thrown to a season high 15 times catching 9 for 107 yards.  After the game Owens was asked about Parcell’s demeanor in the week leading up to this game.  "He's a guy who's been miserable all week.  I asked him coming off the field on Friday, I asked him how it was going and he said he doesn't like to get his butt kicked. As a team, we're tired of losing; we know we have a decent team. We just have to go out and play like it."  All seems well in Dallas, at least for one week.  With the Redskins and Cardinals on tap the next two weeks, it might be all smiles for a while.  That is until Indianapolis comes to town in week 11.